Gas steam radiator



Marqh 10, 1931.

' Original Filed June 2, 1927 G. W. BLACKMORE GAS STEAM RADIATOR 2Sheets-Sheet l ,FIGJ.

M r 1931- G. w. BLACKMORE GAS STEAM RADIATOR 2 sheets-sheet 2 OriginalFiled June 2, 1927 Patented Mar. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. IBLACKMORE, F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO AUTOMATICGAS STEAM RADIATOR COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- TIONOF PENNSYLVANIA GAS STEAM RADIATOR Application filed .Tune 2, 1927,Serial No. 195,884. Renewed August 2, 1930.

My invention relates to heating apparatus and is herein particularlydescribed in connection with gas steam radiators, although it is adaptedfor use with other types of heaters.

In the use of gas burners particularly adapted for residences difficultyhas heretofore been experienced by reasonof the escape of the productsof combustion into the space being heated with a resultant undesirablecondition of the atmosphere. 'It has heretofore been proposed to connectsuch heaters to a flue or chimney in such manner that the products ofcombustion are discharged from the flue. V

However, when such flues are connected directly to the outsideatmosphere as through a chimney, difliculty has frequently beenexperienced due to back drafts extinguishing the pilot light for theburner, and occasionally extinguishing the burner itself. It has beenfound that such back drafts are of a brief transitory nature, but thatthe pressures built up are considerable. This ressure, when suddenlyapplied to the urner, frequently results in extinguishing the pilotflame and occasionally in extinguishing the main burner.

I provide a heating device such as a radiator havingwater sealedtherein, 0f. such constructionthat the, products of combustion followawe'll defined path in their escape to the flue but in which provisionis made for permitting the back-draft'toescape from the flue withoutpassing through the combustion chamber. Y a 1 I provide a radiator ofadesired number of units each of, which is provided with a lower chamberfor constituting a portion of the combustion chamber. The remainder ofthe unit is shaped toprovide a plurality of openings through which airmay circulate, and provision is madefor aifluid passageway betweenadjacent units. When the units are assembled, a few quarts of a fluidsuch as water are placed in the radiator and it is sealed up after whichthe fluid is vaporized to dissipate heat to the surrounding atmospherethrough the radiator walls.

In order to prevent the escape of'the products of combustion to thesurrounding atmosphere, I provide each radiator or unit withcomplementary flanges that unite to form a shield extending upwardlysubstantially to the flue opening. Other flanges unite, to constitute a:second shield extending across the radiator in parallelism to the axisof the flue outlet and downwardly at a distance from the first shieldwhereby a passageway is formed between the two shields such that a backdraft moving down the flue is permitted to escape between the shieldswithout passing through the combustion chamber.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the present preferredembodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a radiator embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a view, partially in elevation and partially in section, ofa portion of the radiator unit taken along the section line II-II ofFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a radiator section taken along the sectionline IIIIII. of Figure 1; and

: Figure 4 is a fragmentary View, partially in elevation and partiallyin section,v of a radiator unit embodying a modified form of myinvention;

Referring to Figure 1, the radiator unit comprises a pair of endsections 2 between which a plurality of radiator units or sections 4 and5 are inserted and held together by stay bolts 6. Each of the radiatorunits 2, 4 and 5 is provided with outwardly projecting flanges 8cooperating to receive couplings constituting fluid connectionstherebetween. One face of each of the end units 2 is provided with avertically extending flange 9 engaging and cooperating with verticallyextending flanges 10 along the ed es of the adjacent radiator units 4and 5 such that one face of the lower portion of the radiator is madesubstantially air-tight.

At substantially the center of the radiator the flanges 9 and 10 aredirected inwardly as at 11, for a distance materially in excess of halfthe width of the radiator where they are bent downwardly as at 12.

The radiator units 2, 4 and 5 are also provided with complementarycurved flanges 14 extending upwardly from the bottom of the radiator foran appreciable distance above a combustion chamber 15 and are thendirected inwardly and upwardly as at 16 along the center line of theradiator for a distance materially less than that of the flanges 9 and10. By reason of the spaced relation between the ends of the flanges 12and 16, a plurality of passageways 17, collectively constituting a mainpassageway, are formed between the radiator units 2, 4i, and above thecombustion chamber and to the left of the flanges 14: as viewed inFigure 2.

Portions of the columns of the radiator unit 5 may be cut away andclosed as at 18 by welding or caps, or they may be initially cast toshape as may be desired for constituting a smoke chamber 13 extendinghorizontally across a portion of the radiator below the flanges 11, andcommunicating through a cover plate 19 with a. chimney or flue 20. Thechamber thus formed is in communication with the combustion chamber 15between the flanges 9, and 16 and is also in communication with theatmosphere between the flange portions 12 and 16.

Referring to Figure 1, the plate 19 may be shaped to fit over the curvedsurfaces of the radiator unit 5 and between a pair of adjacent radiatorunits 1.

Any suitable burner 21 may be inserted in the combustion chamber andconnected to a gas line 22 by any suitable type of fixtures indicateddiagrammatically at 24. The

' burner 21 is provided with a pilot light 25 and a main jet 26. Theradiator units 2, 4: and 5 are partially filled with a suitable fluid 27such as water, and sealed.

During the operation of the heater, the burner 21 is lighted andvaporizes the fluid 27. The vapor circulates in the connected radiatorunits 2, a and 5 for heating the surrounding atmosphere. The products ofcombustion from the combustion chamber 15 pass upwardly between theflanges 9, 10 and 14 and are directed by the flanges 11 to the chamber13 formed in the radiator unit 5 and outwardly into the flue or chimney20. By this construction the liberation of products of combustion intothe room or space being heated is avoided.

In the event that aback draft should move down the fine 20, it entersthe chamber in the radiator unit 5 and moves therealong until theflanges 12 are engaged, when it is directed downwardly and laterallyoutside of the flanges 16 and escapes into the open air without passingthrough the combustion chamber 15. This construction eliminates thedanger of the pilot light 25 and the main jet 26 being blown out.

Referring to Figure 4, I have shown a modified radiator unit or section31 which may be used in lieu of the radiator unit 5. In the radiatorunit 31 the cut-away radiator greases columns are supplanted by acontinuous lower surface 32 and a cast upper face 84. This form of myinvention operates in the same manner as do the modifications shown anddescribed in connection with Figures 1, 2 and 3, inclusive.

Accordingly, I have provided a gas steam radiator for use in residencesand other places where it is desired to burn gas without polluting theair and, at the same time, to avoid the danger of having the burneraccidentally blown out due to back drafts from a connected flue orchimney. I accomplish this result by providing the radiator with aplurality of shields or guiding surfaces such that the products ofcombustion are led to the flue through a passageway that enters anintermediate point in a chamber from the further end of which anotherpassageway extends downwardly and outwardly to the atmosphere. A backdraft in moving down the flue enters the chamber, moves thereacross andescapes through the latter passagewaywithoutpassingthroughthecombustionchamher. This action is due in part tothe lower resistance oifered by the second passageway than by the pathleading through the combustion chamber. My invention may be practicedwith but slight modification of radiator units now on the market.

It is to be understood that various changes in the invention may be madewithout departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a radiator structure, a plurality of radiator sections, eachcomprising a plurality of separated vertically extending columnsdefining passageways for a heating medium, a combustion chamber formedby the bases of the assembled radiator sections, complementary flangescarried by the radiator sections defining an upwardly extendingpassageway for combustion gases developed in the combustion chamber, anintermediate radiator section having a space formed by omitting portionsof certain of the vertically extending columns, a flue connection forthe radiator substantially opposite said space, flanges on oppositesides of said intermedi .ate radiator section, said last mentioned.flanges extending horizontally of the radiator section above said spaceand beyond the first mentioned flanges to form a passageway for theescape of back drafts from the flue con nection without traversing thecombustion chamber.

2. In a radiator structure, a plurality of radiator sections, eachcomprising a plurality of separated vertically eXten din g columnsdefining passageways for a heating medium. a combustion chamber formedby the bases of the assembled radiator sections. comp1ementary flangescarried by the radiator sections defining an upwardly extendingpassageway for combustion gases developed in the combustion chamber, anintermediate radiator section having a space formed by omitting portionsof some of thevertically eX- tending columns, a flue connection for theradiator cooperating with said space, flanges on opposite sides of saidintermediate radiator section, said last mentioned flanges extendinghorizontally of the radiator section above said space and beyond thefirst mentioned flanges and having oflset portions extending downwardlytoward but spaced from said first mentioned flanges to form a passagewayfor the escape of back drafts from the flue connection withouttraversing the combustion chamber.

3. In a radiator structure, a plurality of radiator sections, eachhaving a plurality of vertically disposed columns, a combustion chamberformed in the base of the radiator, complementary flanges carried by theradiator sections defining an upwardly extending passageway forcombustion gases developed in the combustion chamber, an intermediateradiator section having a space formed by omitting portions of some ofthe Vertically extending columns, a flue connection fonthe radiatorcooperating with said space, flanges on opposite sides of saidintermediate radiator section, said last mentioned flanges extendinghorizontally of the radiator section above said space and cooperatingwith the first mentioned flanges to form a passage way therebetween forthe escape of back drafts without traversing the combustion chamber.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GEORGE W. BLACKMORE.

